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Tuesday, 28 April 2015

The spring waters tumbling into the river below.

Pamukkale ( Cotton Castle) is an enchanting and remarkable sight in Turkey. It is set high upon a plateau almost 400 feet high, rising in a curtain of stalagmites and stepped shallow pools, merging one into another on hundreds of different levels. It's described as a fairyland of cotton white forms with pale blue water cascading gently down.

Cleopatra's Pool.

It was formed by water laden with limestone from the thermal springs of Cal Dagi. Pamukkale is also home to Cleopatra's Pool.

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We actually bathed in this beautiful part of Paradise.

Cleopatra's Pool is a basin full of thermal hot water that for centuries have given health to those who bathe in it. Pamukkale has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 and is one of the most visited places in Turkey.

Monday, 20 April 2015

One of our earlier visits to Turkey took us to a breathtakingly beautiful village of Olu Deniz..... This means 'dead sea', it is a warm lagoon in the gulf of Belcekiz. It is backed by pine covered mountains that literally tumble into the turquoise sea.

This was once the haunt of Pirates.

Olu Deniz is said to be the finest beach in Turkey. I shall never forget my first view of it, from the mountainside road that we were hiking down, I was just blown away, one of the the most stunning views in Turkey.
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We stayed in a mountainside hotel called The Montana Pine , it was set in a pine forest. It was a joy to wake each morning to the sound of songbirds twittering away to each other, and the fragrant aroma of the pine trees.﻿﻿﻿﻿

Our room in the Montana Pine with the Taurus Mountains in the background. The rooms were in individual chalet type lodges and beautifully furnished in an Alpine style.

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Lunch at the hotel was always of a high standard which we enjoyed if we were having a lazy day around the pool.

Deliciou Dolmus.

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﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Just a short water taxi ride down the coast from Olu Denz is a most spectacular place called Butterfly Valley in a tiny village called Faralya.

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It is a world Heritage Conservation Foundation and home to at least 80 species of butterfly, including the tiger butterfly.

This is a closely monitored conservation area, visitors are most welcome as long as they respect the 'do's and dont's'.

Particularly, being reasonably quiet so not to disturb the butterflies and the peace.

Rustic accommodation on the river.

There are some rustic chalets and huts to spend a night or two in, designed to fit in with the woodland.

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Rather Spartan accommodation but very popular with hikers and backpackers.

It can be accessed from
'The Lycian Way' which is a well known 500km walk along the coastline. Olu Deniz is considered to be the best starting place.
It finishes in Antalya, where the Taurus Mountains end abruptly, forming a spectacular backdrop for the city.﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ It is a lovely town and is often described as The
Turkish Riviera.

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Antalya Old Town

Another day, another opportune moment, to tell you more about another one of our journey's through Turkey!

My sincere thanks to the outstandingly ingenious Denise for creating ABCW and also to the oracular Roger for his outstanding efforts in keeping us all in order!
That's it folks I'm all OUT OF O's, so I'm OFF!

Monday, 13 April 2015

East Neuk comprises of little fishing villages of the most northerly part of the Firth of Forth, (estuary or Firth of Scotland's River Forth). Neuk is the Scots word for Nook or corner.

The Royal St Andrews Ancient Clubhouse.

The town of St Andrews.

We stayed in the town of St Andrews which is home to The Royal and Ancient St Andrews Golf Club, world renown for staging 'The Open'.

The University of St Andrews

St Andrews is also home to one of the finest University's in the UK. Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge met and studied at the university.

William and Catherine revisited the university after their marriage... I wonder if Prince George will go there ?

On East Neuk is the pretty little fishing village called Anstruther, we would watch the local fishermen land their catch on the edge of the harbour. The Anstruther Fish bar is voted as producing the best Fish and Chips in the UK. They have won several awards. We can vouch for that, definitely the finest we've tasted on our trips around the UK.....Absolutely delicious! Needless to say all the fish they sell are straight out of the waters around The East Neuk.

We would also buy fresh crabs and langoustines from the fishermen on the quay

Scottish Crab and lobster are landed by the brightly coloured fishing boats in Anstruther harbour.

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Lobster from the waters of Anstruther East Neuk .

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The famous bridges spanning The Firth of Forth. This is a direct link from Edinburgh at South Ferry to Fife at North Queensferry.